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Resources on
Key Issues Following the Gaza Withdrawal
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Bush-Abbas
Meeting and Quartet Statement
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Jerusalem News
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Recent Poll
Findings: Mutual Recognition; Settlements & Negotiations; Truce &
Rule of Law
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Education for
Peace: Project Presents Israeli & Palestinian Histories
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resources on key issues following the
gaza
withdrawal
The completion
of the
Gaza
withdrawal presented Israel and the
Palestinians with a new opportunity to renew the Road Map peace plan
aimed at a negotiated two-state solution that is in the best
interest of Israelis, Palestinians and the United States. This
important opportunity remains despite the new outbreak of violence,
lack of cooperation and slow progress on a variety of key issues
related to the security sector, movement, access and economic
viability in the Palestinian territories. Below are a variety of
resources related to these issues.
“Periodic Report from the Office for the Special Envoy for
Disengagement, James Wolfensohn”,
October 17, 2005
The
Special Envoy for Disengagement, James Wolfensohn, visited the
region from October 7-12, 2005
to try and conclude the "six plus three” agenda outlined in June to
the two parties and the international community. His office
issued a report on October 17th, excerpts of which are
provided below, that was accompanied by a letter to the Quartet.
Also, this
week’s Bittlerlemon’s edition is on the “Wolfensohn Mission” and can be found at:
http://www.bitterlemons.org/index.html.
“…The Special
Envoy was disappointed that none of the key movement issues has been
resolved. Without a dramatic improvement in Palestinian movement and
access within appropriate security arrangements for Israel, the
economic revival essential to a resolution of the conflict will not
be possible… Currently, the combination of violence, closure and
weak internal governance is undermining the chances for any
substantive economic recovery. The onus for reversing this situation
falls squarely on the two parties; absent serious change in
bilateral relations and the ambient policy environment, no amount of
donor money will bring about economic recovery…With the ultimate
goal of a two state solution, the ‘six plus three’ agenda is only a
beginning—but it is a vital beginning…Time is short. Courage is
needed and understanding and trust must be restored. The future of
both Israelis and Palestinians requires new forms of cooperation.
The future will either be one of peace and development or one of
conflict. Both sides must work together for peace, and if they do,
they can be assured that the donors and investors will help.”
http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/d438ea4c24b1c587852570a100500c62?OpenDocument
“Post-Disengagement
Security and Diplomacy”, Maj. Gen. Danny Rothschild, former
Israeli Defense Force Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories, Middle East Institute Policy Brief ((the policy
presentation was co-sponsored by the Middle East Institute and the
Israel Policy Forum), October 25, 2005
“…In order to
ensure political strength and stability in Gaza and the West Bank,
the Palestinian authority must regain the faith and support of the
Palestinian people. It can achieve this by improving the standard of
living of the Palestinian people through provision of employment
opportunities, housing, education, and health care…A viable
Palestinian state is possible, but its formation and stability will
require work and consistent efforts from both sides. Israel can help
strengthen Palestine’s economy by facilitating trade, and most
importantly the export of goods out of Palestine, as well as
releasing innocent Palestinian prisoners…The Palestinians can help
by allowing themselves to be trained in skills necessary for
employment. Bilateral discussion between Israel and Palestine is
also necessary for political stability, but the pressing issues of
the moment are those of practicality. If the basic necessities of
the people are taken care of and their problems are addressed, the
authorities can gain their support and the political problems can
then be solved.”
http://www.mideasti.org/articles/doc440.html
“Public
Perceptions of Palestinian Security Sector Governance”,
The Geneva
Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and the
Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED) in Geneva, October,
2005
This report
presents the summary findings of an opinion poll that was conducted
in July 2005 to measure public perceptions of Palestinian security
sector governance. An analysis of the report by Rami Khouri, a
regular writer for The Daily Star, is also provided below.
Key findings
include: 1) The feeling of security among the Palestinian population
increased significantly from October 2004 until July 2005. A
majority of Palestinians perceive Israeli
occupation as the main threat to their security, with the
lack of socio-economic improvement being the second most important
factor. 2) Palestinians place high trust in non-statutory armed
groups and also strongly support dissolution of armed groups. 3)
High trust in Sharia courts and customary law institutions. 4)
Strong and widespread support for security sector reform. 5)
Fighting corruption and nepotism seen as the top priority. 6)
Strong demand for accountability and increased oversight. 7)
Support for changes in the judiciary.
http://www.dcaf.ch/mena/Palestinian_Perceptions.pdf
(Also see,
“Security Sector is critical to Arab reform”, Rami G. Khouri, The
Daily Star, October 19, 2005:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=19418)
“Humanitarian Update:
Special Focus:
Rising Poverty in 2005,
United Nations office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
September, 2005
“…According to
the findings below, poverty levels are high in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt) and worsening. The gap between the rich
and the poor is widening and more people state they need
humanitarian assistance than ever before. This Update focuses on
the numbers of poor, their location and the reasons behind their
poverty. A clear understanding is needed to target assistance. In
November, an international appeal for emergency assistance for
Palestinians will be launched for the fourth consecutive year. It
will ask donors for around $215 million in aid for Palestinians. Its
aim is to target those most poor…”
http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/docs/UN/OCHA/ochaHU0905_En.pdf
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bush-Abbas meeting and quartet statement
“President
Welcomes Palestinian President Abbas to the White House”,
Office of
the Press Secretary, October 20, 2005
On October 20th,
President Bush met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in
Washington,
after which they held a press conference. To read the full text of
their comments followed by questions and answers, please go to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051020.html
“Quartet
Statement”,
New York, UN News Centre, October 28, 2005
Representatives of the Quartet, including United
States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, issued the following
statement after last week’s suicide bombing in Hadera, Israel.
“…The Quartet
condemns the October 26 terrorist attack on the Hadera market,
responsibility for which was claimed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad,
headquartered in Damascus. The Quartet urges the Syrian government
to take immediate action to close the offices of Palestinian Islamic
Jihad and to prevent the use of its territory by armed groups
engaged in terrorist acts. The Quartet denounces all acts of
terrorism and urges all parties to exercise restraint, avoid an
escalation of violence, and keep the channels of communication open.
The Quartet strongly encourages and supports the Palestinian
Authority in its immediate effort to take steps to prevent armed
groups from acting against law and order and the policy of the
Authority itself. The Quartet believes it is imperative that all
involved act decisively to ensure that terror and violence are not
allowed to undermine further progress in accordance with the
Roadmap. The Quartet will remain seized of these matters.”
http://www.un.org/news/dh/infocus/middle_east/quartet-28oct2005.htm
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Jerusalem NEWS
The status of
Jerusalem continues to be a critical issue in Israeli-Palestinian
peacemaking. Below is a recent from Lutheran Bishop Dr. Munib Younan on the future of Jerusalem. Also below are recent
media reports related to U.S. policy regarding Israeli settlement
building in the E-1 area and new series in Ha’aretz, based on
a recent study by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, on the
effects of the separation barrier in Jerusalem.
“A Feast of Inclusion: A
Palestinian Christian Appeal for an Open and Shared Jerusalem”,
Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and
the Holy Land (ELCJHL) October, 2005
“This year we are blessed to
celebrate the Jewish High Holidays at the same time as the Holy
Month of Ramadan. Both Ramadan and Yom Kippur call for repentance
and fasting, and Sukkot invites pondering the wanderings in this
life, as it commemorates the Hebrews wandering homeless in the
wilderness of Sinai after their deliverance from oppression in
Egypt. It reminds us we are all just pilgrims and wanderers in God's
world. And at the center of it all is Jerusalem, with all its
pluralistic richness, not only a Holy City to the three monotheistic
faiths, but also claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as their
capitol. Of all places in God’s creation, it is meant to be a place
open to all and shared by all…”
http://www.hcef.org/hcef/index.cfm/mod/news/ID/16/SubMod/NewsView/NewsID/1366.cfm
“Rice: E1
building 'contravenes US policy'”, Nathan Guttman, The
Jerusalem Post, Oct. 20, 2005
”Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Senate Foreign
Relations committee Wednesday that Israeli building in the E1
corridor between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim was an act ‘that would
contravene American policy’…"
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1129540566404&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
For background on
E-1, see the
Jerusalem
section of the October update:
http://www.cmep.org/Updates/2005Oct4.htm#Jerusalem%20News
“Jerusalem
Fence / First in a Series - Study: Wall negatively impacts Jerusalem
residents and status”,
Nadav Shragai,
Ha’aretz, October 6, 2005
”The separation
wall, which cuts off tens of thousands of Palestinians and their
neighborhoods from Jerusalem, is not only having a negative impact
on the lives of East Jerusalem residents, but is also harming the
city's Jewish inhabitants and its position as the nation's capital,
according to a recent study conducted by the Jerusalem Institute for
Israel Studies…”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=632241
“Jerusalem
Fence / Second in a Series - Jerusalem's
Arabs find themselves pushed out”,
Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz,
October 10, 2005
“…Two studies conducted recently by the Jerusalem Institute for the
Study of Israel reveal that the fence has hit hardest with regard to
employment. Some 52 percent of those interviewed said they had
difficulties reaching their places of work or that they had lost
them entirely. Others reported that their businesses were hard hit,
and that customers had left. Some 44 percent of those interviewed
said they had stopped attending prayers at the Temple Mount or were
going less frequently. Another 39 percent said their health was
affected by the inaccessibility of hospitals and clinics in
Jerusalem. Some 37 percent said their social and family ties were
affected by the wall. One-third of the interviewees said they had
difficulty getting to schools and institutes of higher learning in
Jerusalem…Yisrael Kimche, Maya Hoshen and Amnon Ramon, who have
studied and followed the developments in East Jerusalem over the
years, propose that Israeli policy planners take into account the
economic, spiritual and social centrality of Jerusalem in the lives
of West Bank residents.”
http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=1103&PHPSESSID=f3b74aa1125f6a3cabf04e31c4a36474
(this
article was distributed by the Common Ground
News Service
and was no longer available on the Ha’aretz website)
For background
on the work of The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, please
visit their website at:
http://www.jiis.org.il/
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Recent poll findings: mutual recognition; settlements & Negotiations;
Truce & RULE OF LAW
In recent polls,
a variety of good news can be found: a majority of Israelis and
Palestinians support a mutual recognition of each other’s statehood,
a majority of Israelis support further settlement evacuations and
negotiations and a majority of Palestinians support the truce with
Israel and President Abbas' efforts to create law and order. A
recent article by Naomi Chazan, former deputy speaker of the Israeli
Knesset, explains why Israeli and Palestinian leaders should follow
the “extraordinarily healthy instincts of their voters” who have
shown that “they want and will back further progress toward a just
and sustainable peace.”
“Israeli and Palestinian leaders must follow their peoples’ leads”,
Naomi Chazan, The Daily Star, October 27, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=19612
“Joint Survey
of Palestinian and Israeli public opinion”, Palestinian Center
for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in Ramallah and the Harry S.
Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, September 25, 2005
Exploring one of
the most difficult issues in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute –
mutual recognition – the September poll found that “66% of the
Israelis and 63% of the Palestinians support a mutual recognition of
Israel as the state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the state
of the Palestinian people after the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state and the settlement of all issues in dispute. 29%
of the Israelis and 35% of the Palestinians oppose such a step.
Among Israeli Jews 67% support and 29% oppose this mutual
recognition of identity. Even more remarkable is the majority
support for this step among Israeli Arabs: 63% support and 34%
oppose it…”
http://www.pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2005/p17ejoint.html
“Peace Index”,
Prof.
Ephraim Yaar and Prof. Tamar Hermann, Tami Steinmetz Center
for Peace Studies and the Evans Program for Conflict Resolution
Research of Tel Aviv University, September 2005
“About a month
after the disengagement, a majority of the Jewish public thinks it
was the right step both in terms of security and the chances of
advancing the peace process…As for an extensive evacuation of West
Bank settlements, the majority's position is that such a step must
be carried out as part of an agreement with the Palestinians, with
only a small minority prepared to support a further stage of
unilateral disengagement. Indeed, a large majority favors holding
negotiations with the Palestinian Authority despite the prevailing
view that the chances of reaching an agreement with the Abu Mazen
government are quite low. The gap between the support for
negotiations and the skepticism about their results can be
explained, among other things, by the widespread concern that
without progress on the political level, a third intifada is likely
to erupt…”
http://spirit.tau.ac.il/socant/peace/peaceindex/2005/files/sep2005e.pdf
“Poll # 143: The
Calls on Putting an end to the Chaos of Arms, Anarchy, the
Imposition of the Law and the Concerns of the Palestinians about the
Existing Situation”,
Palestinian
Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), October 26, 2005
Some of the main
findings of the poll include: “An overwhelming majority (81.4%) of
the Palestinians support putting an end to all forms of weapons
chaos, anarchy and the multi-authority society; (70.1%) support the
PA-campaign for putting an end to the armed shows and the withdrawal
of weapons from the street; An overwhelming majority (76.9%) of the
respondents support to various degrees the continuation of the calm
period with the Israelis.”
http://www.zajel.org/article_view.asp?newsID=4176&cat=17
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Education for peace: project presents israeli & palestinian histories
A variety of
groups both in the region and in the United States promote dialogue
and coexistence among Israelis and Palestinians, which is laying the
groundwork for an eventual negotiated resolution of the conflict. A
major aspect of this work is providing individuals opportunities to
hear each others’ personal stories and encounter the history of the
other group. For nearly four years,
Israeli and Palestinian professors have been writing school
textbooks that provide two parallel narratives of major events in
their histories. Their project is highlighted below.
”Professors'
history project opens new chapter for Israeli, Palestinian students”,
Martin Patience,
USA
TODAY,
October 11, 2005
“…The battle
lines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict extend to the classroom,
where the two sides' versions of their shared history diverge
sharply. Now, two university professors aim to change the way the
conflict is taught by exposing Palestinian students to Israeli
history lessons and Israeli students to the Palestinian version of
history. The project is the work of Dan Bar-On, a social psychology
professor at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, a city in southern
Israel, and Sami Adwan, an education professor at Bethlehem
University
in the West Bank. Together with teams of Israeli and Palestinian
historians, they devised a series of booklets that set the competing
versions of history side-by-side on the same pages for students.
The professors say the project is an effort to bridge the chasm
between the two peoples…”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-11-israel-palestinian-students_x.htm
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The views expressed by
the authors of the items included do not necessarily reflect those of
Churches for
Middle East
Peace (CMEP). CMEP is a coalition of 21 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant
church bodies and organizations that work together in pursuit of a
peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict where two viable states,
Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized
borders.
For more information contact Julie Schumacher Cohen, CMEP’s Legislative
Assistant at 202-543-1222 or at
Julie@cmep.org.
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